Automatic train-pipe connecter



June 9, 1925.

J. V. ROBINSON AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE CONNECYTER Ori i l F'iled Dec. 6, 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Wane/1 .5

June9, 1925.

J. V. ROBINSON AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE CONNECTER Or i Filed Dec. 6, 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 @513 mtoz'nu p naw June 9, 1925. 1,540,953

J. v. ROBINSON AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE CONNECTER Original Filed Dec. 6, 1919 S Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 9, 1925.

.earksar Fries.

JOSEPH v ROBINSON, or NEW YORK, n. Y.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN-PIPE CONNECTER.

Application filed December 6, 1919, Serial No. 343,102. Renewed November -1, 1-924.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Josnrrr V. ROBINSON,

a citizen of the United States, and a resi-.

dent of the city of New York, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Train-Pipe Connecters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic train pipe connectors, and has for its object to provide an improved head for such connectors. Heretofore the manufacture of automatic train pipe connector heads has been attended by serious difficulties in herent in their design. The conditions under which the coupling head must efficiently perform its function are varied and severe, which necessitates that the coupling head he of considerable lateral and vertical dimension. Because of this conformation the heads cannot be cast within the narrow tolerances allowable for service, and hence much n achine finishing and gauging, of one form or another is made necessary. In additi on to this close attention and inspection is required to avoid porosity'in'the casting which cause leaks, and inaccuracies in finishing which interfere with interchange between the connecter heads in service. The result is a prohibitive manufacturing cost and an uncertain product.

The object of the presentinvention is to overcomethese difliculties, which is .effec tively done by making the head in two pieces. one a simple base which is preferably cast, and the other a contour member or hood formed of pressed steel and set over the base and suitably secured thereto. With this construetion the contour of the head and its guiding members are pressed from one piece of steel of suitable thickness to insure the required strength. In this manner the manufacture of the heads is greatly facilitated and the dimensions thereof at their registering faces easily kept Within a tolerance of a few thousandths of an inch, thus insuring the highest efliciency in operation and the minimum manufacturing cost.

Other novel features of my improvement will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my -im proved coupling head.

Figure 2 is a rear view thereof.

Figure 3 is a face view of the hood or contour member A of my improvement, some of ed in the vertical the parts being shown in sections. view the base B is omitted.

. Figure 4 is a plan view of the contour or hood member as it appears projected from Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical section through my improved coupling head, taken on theline 5-5 of Figure 2. In this view the guiding Figure 6 is a facc view of the base B of my improved coupling head, the gaskets 841- and the contour member A being removed.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail of the gasket seat and lower conduit of my, im-

In this provement, taken on the line 77 of Figure 6, and i l t Figure 8 1s detailed view of the means for securing the base and the contour member together, taken on the line 88 of Fig ure 6 and showing the contour member ap-,

plied.

Referring now to the drawings: My improved coupling head comprises two independent parts, the contour or hood member A formed to give to the coupling head its coupling con-tour and an oblong vertically disposed base B. The hood or contour memher A may be made of any desired shape, but 1 preferably construct it oblong in front view and provide it with diagonally spaced upper and lower corners 9 which are roundand horizontal planes as shown. I provide the contour member'with diagonally spaced forwardly extending out Iardly diverging guiding prongs 10, having upper and lower edges'll and 12 disposed preferably in the horizontal plane and transversely of the contour member A. The edges 11 of these prongs serve as guiding edges, and are adapted to co-operate with the rounded corners 9 of a mating coupling head in efi'ectinga coupling on a sharp curve with one head considerably above the other. It will be observed that the inner face 15 of the guiding prongs lies in the vertical plane at the point where the prongs meet the base 14 of the contour member A and for a short distance in advance thereof, and thence gradually flares into a curved convex face which encompasses the entire face of the prongs as shown particularly at sections 0-0, d-d and e-e of Figure 3. I This construction efliciently insures against jamming of the heads under all conditions of service, and produces a guide which will bring the heads into accurate prong is partly broken away.

alignment with the least resistance and wear thereon.

At the sides of the contour member A i provide bearing surfaces 16, which mate with complementary surfaces 17 on the inner face of the guiding prongs and at the base thereof. These bearing surfaces 16 extend vertically of the contour member and join with the curve of the rounded corners 9. They extend rearwardly. from the vertically disposed base or coupling face 14 of the contour member A and flare outwardly to a slight extent, to conform substantially to the outward flare of the surfaces 17 of the guiding prongs as shown especially in Figure 4. At the sides of the contour member A I'provide shoulders 18 which flare in the vertical plane, to mate with complementary shoulders 19 on the guiding prongs as shown particularly in Figures 1, 2 and 8. It will be observed that these shoulders 18 and 19, and the guiding edges 11 and 12 of the prongs, and the bearing surfaces 16 at the sides of the contour member, are formed of a continuous flange which embraces the entire member A and the guiding prongs 10, and forms the outline or contour thereof, producing a construction which gives great strength and rigidity to the contour member. The angularity of the bearing, surfaces 16 and 17 and the shoulders 18 and 19 insures easy coupling and uncoupling operation of the coupling heads, without jamming or sticking of any kind, under all conditions of service. The rear end of the shoulders 18 lies above the transverse center line of the member -A, while the forward end of the shoulders 19 lies below such center line as shown in Figure 3. Thus it will be observed that the guiding edges 11 of the prongs 1O join with the base or coupling face 14 of the contour member A on sub stantially the transverse center line thereof.

At the intersection of the transverse and vertical center line of the member A, I provide an opening 20 for receiving the air brake port 21 of the base B, and above this opening I provide a similar opening 22 to receive the air signal port 23 of the port B, and below the central opening 20 1 provide an oaening 24c to receive the steam port 25 of said base, as appears particularly in Figures 3, 5 and 6. These three openings are vertically aligned as shown, and they may be of less or greater number as. for freight service where only the central opening isused.

The member or base B, see Figures 5 and 6, is inserted into the hood or contour member A from the rear thereof, the annular seats or bosses 26 passing into and mating with the openings 20, 22 and 24; in the contour member A. The base and contour member are suitably secured together as by rivets 27, which extend through the member and the base as shown, though these members may be otherwise secured to gether if desired. A satisfactory other means of securing the base in the hood or member A is by the welding process, wherein the hood is welded to the entire face of the base, or in spots thereon, as desired. The base B comprises the aforesaid three vertically aligned ports or conduits 21, 23, and 25, having at their rear sides suitable nipples 28, 29 and 30 adapted to be connected in any desired manner with the train pipes of the car, the aforesaid nipples and ports constituting conduits for conveying theair and steam carried in the train pipes.

The base B is provided with bearing surfaces 31 and perforated bearing points 32-, machine to have a definite position with respect to the said ports and upon which the member A is mounted and secured with the face 33 of the ports flush with the coupling face or base 14 of the member A. Any suitable form of gasket seat may be provided in the ports 21, 23 and 25 of the base B, and any desired form of gasket 84- may be mounted therein, while the nip-- ples 28, 29 and 30 of the ports may extend axially of the base B or laterally thereof. 1 preferably extend the nipple of the central port, and the upper port, axially of the head and the nipple of the lower port laterally thereof. The nipple of the central port threadingly receives the forward end of the pipe or conduit 35 which is carried by or forms a part of any suitable form of universal support which it may be desired to use with my improved coupling head. A satisfactory form of such support is shown in my co-pending application, Serial Number 884567, filed Octoier 29, 1919.

The foregoing construction produces a simple and efficient two piece improved coupling head in which the member A is formed of sheet steel to give the required coupling contour or outline to the head. and in which the base B, formed of a casting or a drop forgin is mounted upon the rear side or face ofthe member A and is accurately positioned with respect thereto. The rivets 27 which secure the member and the base together, are freed of the shearing strains of service through engagement of the bosses 26 with the walls of the openings 20, 22 and 2A in the contour member A, which bosses serve also to accurately position the member on the base thus insuring proper and uniform assembly.

At one side of the nipple 30, a threaded boss 36 is provided to receive a standard form of automatic drip for draining the condensation from the steam port 25 of my improved coupling head.

, VVhat'IIelaim as new and desire tosellfi cure by Letters Patent of the United States,

l. An automatic train pipecoupling head comprising in combination, a base carrying a conduit and having a vertically disposed front face, a pressed sheet metal member mounted on said front face of said base and haying an opening in alignment with said conduit and having also guiding means for aligning said conduit with the conduit of a mating head, said member serving as the coupling contour of said base, and means for securing the base and said member together. i I

2. An automatic train pipecoupling head comprising in combination, a V perforated member pressed from sheet metal and formed to give said head its coupling contour, a base carrying a conduit, said base being separate of said member and mounted on the rear face thereof with said conduit aligned with the perforation in said member, guiding means on said member whereby said conduit is aligned with a complementary conduit of an opposing head in coupling, and means for securing said base and said member together.

i 3. An automatic train pipe coupling head comprising in combination, a perforated sheet metal member formed to give the re-.

quired coupling contour to said coupling head, a perforated base separate of said member and mounted on the rear face thereof, with its perforation aligned with the perforation in said member, guiding means on said member whereby said perforations are aligned with complementary perforations of an opposing head in coupling, and means for securing said base and said member together.

4. An automatic train pipe coupling head comprising in combination, a base carrying a laterally diverging fluid conduit, a member separate of said base for aligning said conduit with the conduit of a mating head and for giving to said coupling head its coupling contour, said member being formed from a single piece of sheet metal and having a perforation disposed concentrically with said conduit and adjoining the conduit, and means for securing said member to said base.

5. An automatic train pipe coupling head comprising in combination, a base provided with a conduit, and a vertically disposed front face, i'neans separate of said base and formed to give said coupling head its coupling contour, said means being mounted on the vertically disposed front face of said base and comprising an oblong vertically extending member having a forwardly eX- tending flaring guiding prong for aligning said conduit with theconduit of a mating coupling head, and means for securing said member to said base,

,6. An automatic train pipe coupling head comprising in combination, a base having a vertically disposed front face, a member separate of said base and formed to give the coupling head its coupling contour, said member being mounted on the vertically disposed front face of said base and comprising a pair of forwardly extending outwardly diverging diagonally spaced guiding prongs, and means for securing said men her to said base.

7; An automatic train pipe coupling head comprising in .con'ibination, a base having a vertically disposed front face, a member separate of said base and formed to give the couplingl ead its coupling contour, said member being mounted on the vertically disposed front face of said base and com prising a pair of forwardly extending outwardly diverging diagonally spaced guid ing prongs having a horizontally disposed shoulder adapted to mate with a complementary shoulder on an opposing coupling head to align said heads, and means for securing said member to said base.

8. An automatic train pipe coupling head comprising in combination, a conduit, a pressed sheet metal member surrounding said conduit and formed to give said coupling head its coupling contour, said memher being formed of a single piece of sheet metal and comprising a pairof diagonally spaced forwardly extending outwardly diverging guiding prongs each of which is provided with a guiding edge disposed at an angle to the vertical plane and extending throughout substantially the full length of said guiding prong, and means for maintaining said conduit in position with re spect to said member.

9. An automatic train pipe coupling head comprising in combination, a conduit hav ing a forward face, a pressed sheet metal memberseparate of said conduit and suit.-

ably secured thereto for aligning said conduit with the conduitof an opposing coupling head, said member being formed. of a single piece of sheet metal. and being oblong in front view and having at its side a bearing surface which extends rearwardly of the forward face of said conduit and having also, at a point opposite said bearing surface, a forwardly extending outwardly diverging guiding prong provided with a surface adapted to mate with said bearing surface on a complementary member of an opposing coupling head to align said heads."

10. An automatic train pipe coupling head, comprising a sheet metal member pressed from a single piece of sheet metal and formed to give the required outline to said head and comprising diagonally spaced forwardly extending outwardly diverging guid ng r ongsand having a its id s learing surfaces adapted to mate with complementary surfaces on the base of the guiding prongs of an opposing coupling head, said forwardly extending guiding prongs being provided with guiding edges disposed at an angle to the vertical plane and being provided also with a shoulder adapted to mate with a complementary shoulder on said opposing coupling head to position said heads one upon the other.

11. An automatic: train pipe coupling head, comprising a sheet metal member pressed from a single piece of sheet metal and formed to give the required outline to said head and comprising diagonally spaced forwardly extending outwardly diverging guiding prongs and having at its sides bearing surfaces adapted to mate with complementary surfaces on the base of the guiding prongs of an opposing coupling head, said forwardly extending guiding prongs being provided with gulding edges disposed at an angle to the vertical plane and being provided also with a shoulder adapted to mate with a complementary shoulder on said opposing coupling head to position said heads one upon the other, a base separate of the member and upon which the member is mounted, and means for securing together said base and said member.

12. An automatic train pipe coupling head comprising in combination, a perforated member formed to give said head its coupling contour and having upper and lower diagonally spaced corners which curve in the vertical and horizontal planes, and having also, opposite each of said corners, a forwardly extending outwardly diverging guiding prong provided with a guiding edge disposed at an angle to the vertical plane and extending from the base of said prong forwardly of such base, said member having a flat rear face, a perforated base mounted upon the rear face of said member with its said perforation aligned with the perforation in said member, and means for securing together said perforated base and said member.

13. An automatic train pipe coupling head comprising in combination, a member pressed from sheet metal and formed to the required outline of said head and comprising oppositely disposed forwardly extending outwardly diverging guiding prongs having upper and lower edges disposed at an angle to the vertical plane and forming a flange which extends entirely around said member and said guiding prongs and defines their outline, a base mounted upon the rear face of said member, and means for securing the base and the member together.

14:. An automatic train pipe coupling head comprising in combination, a member pressed from sheet metal and formedto the required outline of said coupling head and having an opening and a pair of diagonally spaced forwardly extending outwardly diverging guiding prongs for aligning said opening with the opening in an opposing coupling head, a base formed separate of said member and mounted upon the rear face thereof and having a conduit aligned with said opening, a gasket mounted at the end of said conduit, and means for securing said member and said base together.

15. An automatic train pipe coupling head, comprising in combination, a base having a plurality of vertically aligned ports, a sheet metal member on said base and having a plurality of vertically aligned openings in alignment with said ports, said member being formed to the required outline of said coupling head and being provided with a flaring guiding prong for aligning said ports with the ports of a complementary head in coupling, and means for securing the member and the base together. I

16. An automatic train pipe coupling head comprising in combination, a base having a port, a sheet metal member mounted on said base and having an opening in line with said port, said member being formed to give the required coupling outline to said base and having flaring guiding means for aligning said port with the port of a complementary base in coupling, means for securing said member to'said base, and means for freeing said securing means from the shearing strains of service.

17. An automatic train pipe coupling head comprisinga base provided with an opening, ,a hood member formed separate of said base and secured thereto and having an opening registering with said opening in the base, said hood member being formed from a single piece of sheet metal and including diagonally spaced forwardly extending outwardly diverging guiding prongs for aligning said opening in the base with. a similar opening in a companion head. V

18. An automatic train pipe coupling head comprising in combination, a base having a conduit adapted to abut with a complementary conduit on an opposing coupling head, a gasket seat in said conduit, a gasket in said seat, a sheet metal member formed from a single piece of sheet metal and having an opening, said member being formed to the required outline of said coupling head and being mounted on said base with said conduit and gasket projecting through said opening, guidingmeans on said member, and means for securing said member to said base.

19. An automatic train pipe coupling head comprising in combination, a base having a plurality of vertically aligned ports each provided with a gasket seat and a boss, a

IOU

' plurality of vertically aligned nipplessuitably connected with said ports at the rear of said base and adapted to suitably receive the train pipes of a car, a sheet metal member formed to give the requiredcoupling outline to said head and having vertically aligned openings into which said bosses project, said member being provided also with guiding means for aligning said ports with the complementary ports of an opposing coupling head, a gasket in said gasket seat, and means for securing said base to said member.

20. An automatic train pipe coupling head comprising in combination, a base having a gasket seat, a gasket on said seat, bearing surfaces on said base which surfaces have a definite relation to said seat, a member pressed from sheet metal and mounted on said bearing surfaces and formed to give the required coupling outline to said head and having a pair of outw'ardly diverging guiding prongs for aligning said gasket with a complementary gasket in an opposing head, and means for securing said member on said bearing surfaces and to said base.

21. An automatic train pipe coupling head comprising in combination, a plurality of vertically aligned conduits each having a forwardly extending boss provided with a. bearing surface, a gasket seat in each of said conduits, a sheet metal member mount- 7 vertical plane, forwardly extending ed on said base and having openings into which said bosses project with said bearing surfaces resting against the rear face: of said member, said member being formed to give the required coupling outline to said coupling head and being provided with a pair of diagonally spaced forwardly extending outwardly diverging guiding prongs for aligning said conduits with the com lementary conduits of an opposing hea a gasket mounted in each of said seats, and means for securing said member to said base.

22. An automatic train pipe coupling head, comprising a member pressed from a single piece of sheet metal and having a base and having also integrally formed forwardly extending outwardly diverging guiding prongs each of which has a guiding edge and a shoulder disposed at an angle to the which said edge extends from the base of said prongs forwardly thereof beyond the transverse center ofvthe prongs, the base of said member being provided with upper and lower corners which curve longitudinally and transversely of said member and which form, at the sides of said base, vertically extending bearing surfaces which join with said shoulders and flare laterally of said base.

In testimony whereof I hereby aflix my signature. 7

JOSEPH V. ROBINSON. 

